Post navigation

June 8, 2011 Obituaries

Kim Christiansen Erikson

Kim Christiansen Erikson of Denver, Colorado, died on Friday May 27, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She left this earth with dignity and grace and leaves behind many friends and family members.

Ms. Erikson was born December 4, 1957, in Berlin, New Hampshire, and attended school in West Campton, New Hampshire.

She leaves behind her son Wayne, her daughter Heidi, and her grandson Owen, all of Denver. She is also survived by her twin brother, Kurt, of Tucson, Arizona; her sister Sherry of Rio Vista, California; her brother Allyn of Concord, New Hampshire; her brother Owen James of Nashua, New Hampshire; and her brother Eugene of Rouses Point, New York; as well as several neices and nephews; and her very special friends, Kim, Wolf, and Michael. She was predeceased by two brothers: Terry Lee of Thornton, New Hampshire, and Arthur of Plymouth, New Hampshire; her mother, Arlene Jesseman; her father, Clarence Christansen; and her stepfather, Elmer Jesseman.

There will be no calling hours and at Ms. Erikson’s request, her ashes will be spread near a lighthouse in northern California at a later date.

Arrangements by DeWitt and Tabler Funeral Home.

Harold Dean Griffin

Harold Dean Griffin, 89, of Derby died on May 30, 2011, in Newport.

He was born on June 5, 1921, in Newport, a son of Harold W. and Etta (Bowley) Griffin.

He served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II.

Mr. Griffin hauled milk for 27 years for H.P. Hood and Sons in Coventry, St. Johnsbury, and Newport before going to work for the Vermont Highway Department from which he retired after 27 years in 1992.

He always enjoyed traveling, gardening, fishing, and was a great baseball fan and liked to play for the town team in West Charleston. He also liked to go to the highway garage and swap stories with the boys.

Mr. Griffin is survived by a daughter, Valerie Griffin, of Derby; two sisters: Dorothy Lamere of Derby and Phyllis Russell of Orleans; sister-in- law Mary Griffin; his grandchildren Shawn and Heather Griffin of Eatonville, Washington; and by several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Robert Griffin, in 2006, and by two brothers, Donald and Francis Griffin.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport on Thursday, June 9, at 11 a.m. with Monsignor Peter Routhier celebrating a Mass. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Derby Line Ambulance Service, care of Brian Fletcher, P.O. Box 105, Derby Line, Vermont 05830.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.

Rodney Everett Griffin

Rodney Everett Griffin died unexpectedly on May 24, 2011, at his brother- and sister-in-law’s home in Silver Spring, Maryland.

He was born August 14, 1950, in Burlington and spent his early childhood there and in Towson, Maryland. He grew up in Saxtons River where he played graded school basketball, Little League, Babe Ruth, and Legion baseball and became a Life Scout. Mr. Griffin graduated from Vermont Academy in 1968 and ran track and was captain of the cross-country team.

He graduated from UVM in 1972 and also earned a master’s degree in natural resource and regional planning from UVM. He worked for the Northeastern Vermont Development Association in St. Johnsbury for many years and spearheaded such projects as the waterfront at Island Pond, the Barton Graded School gymnasium, and the Central Street revitalization in Newport, the Willoughby Lake beach, and many other projects. Mr. Griffin later worked for Dufresne-Henry in Springfield, the state of Vermont and TD BankNorth in Barre. He had a lifelong love of the Baltimore Orioles and the Indianapolis Colts.

He is survived by his former wife, Margaret Hammond, of Springfield; his three daughters: Annaliese Griffin and her husband, Tom Mylan, of Brooklyn, New York, Jennie Griffin and her husband, Kwangwoo Lee, of Seoul, South Korea, and Lauren Griffin and her fiancé, Jacob Loiko, of Ridgwood, New York; by his parents, Dr. Ray E. and Olive Griffin, of West Glover; his brother Ronald Griffin and his wife, Pam Hinds, of Silver Spring; his brother Robert Griffin and his wife, Kathy, of Duxbury, Massachusetts; his sister Judy McKelvey and her husband, George, of Newport; his sister Rebecca Tobey and her friend, Ben Nazzaro, of Ludlow; his former wife Marsha Wilmot of Barre; and by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Griffin was predeceased by his uncle and namesake Everett Rodney Griffin on March 3, 1945, during World War II.

A memorial service will be held on June 18 at 2 p.m. at the West Glover Church. Burial will be in the Andersonville Cemetery in Glover prior to the service.

Jean J. Messier

Jean J. Messier, 84, of Derby died on May 28, 2011, in Newport.

He was born August 14, 1926, in Enosburg Falls, a son of Norbert and Laura (Beauchairme) Messier.

On December 14, 1944, he married Madeline Guillette who predeceased him on May 28, 2008.

He entered the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II.

During his lifetime he was a heavy equipment operator for Tomasso, Inc., in New Britain, Connecticut, for 30 years.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, Gibbons Council #2285 of Newport.

He is survived by several nieces, nephews, godchildren, and by special friends Priscilla Fortin and Bill Gilding. He was predeceased by two children: David and Joanne Messier; his sisters Mary Jane, Olive, Marion, and Edna Marie; and by his brothers Elphege, Lucien, Rosaire, Andrew, and twin brother Paul Messier.

Funeral services were held on June 3 at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport where a Mass was celebrated. Interment followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 191 Clermont Circle, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.

Alan Roger Myers

Alan Roger Myers, 76, of Coventry died suddenly at his home on June 4, 2011.

He was born August 22, 1934, in Burlington, a son of Harris and Helen (Lavalley) Myers Sr.

On January 7, 1972, he married Mary Chesney who predeceased him on May 29, 2008.

Mr. Myers was a member of the Vermont Air National Guard. He worked at Northeast Kingdom Mental Health in Newport, was a machinist at Union Butterfield in Derby Line, and he was employed at one time at Sears in Burlington and Ethan Allen Manufacturing in Island Pond.

He was a member of the Masonic Union Lodge #44 of Island Pond and a past member of the Brighton Rescue Squad as an EMT. He enjoyed camping, square dancing, and building cradles, bookcases, picture frames, and toys for the grandchildren.

He is survived by his children: David Myers and his wife, Shelle, of Georgia, Carolyn Palmer and her partner, Walter Hausermann, of Hinesburg, Steven Myers and his wife, Amy, of Shelburne, Angela Myers of Burlington, Alfred Myers and his wife, Karen, of Ferrisburgh, and Stacey Davis and her partner, Christopher Peck, of Georgia; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his sisters Elaine Neary and her husband, Chuck, of South Burlington and Janet Baker of Tennessee; his sister-in-law Jean Myers of New Hampshire; brothers-in-law Ron Chesney and his wife, Roberta, of Island Pond and Bruce Chesney and his wife, Lora, of Coventry; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers: Bruce Myers and Harris Myers Jr.

Funeral services will be held at the Christ Episcopal Church in Island Pond on Thursday, June 9, at 1 p.m. with the Reverend Brendan Whittaker officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond with military honors.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 100 Dorset Street, Suite #4, South Burlington, Vermont 05403.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.

Richard C. Rives

In loving memory of our beloved father and husband, Richard C. Rives Sr., who died on May 23, 2011.

We loved him very much. May he be at peace with God.

Raymond R. Rogers

Raymond R. Rogers, 93, died on Monday, May 30, 2011, at the Gifford Medical Center in Randolph.

He was born July 1, 1917, in Glover, a son of Richard H. and Effie M. (LaFont) Rogers.

He attended school in Barton, graduating in 1935 from Barton Academy. He attended the University of Vermont and graduated in 1939 with a degree in science.

On August 8, 1939, he married his high school classmate Gerry Mooney in Barton. They lived in Bradford for the first five years of their marriage where Mr. Rogers taught vocational agriculture at the high school, and Mrs. Rogers worked in the school office. They moved to Chelsea in 1944 when Mr. Rogers became the Orange County agricultural agent.

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers’ marriage lasted 66 years, until Mrs. Rogers’ death on July 26, 2005.

Mr. Rogers taught for many years at the Chelsea High School where he was also the Future Farmers of America advisor and the assistant principal. He worked at People’s National Bank in Barre as the farm loan supervisor and for the Vermont Department of Agricultural before retiring in 1981.

He was a member of the Orange County and Vermont Farm Bureau, the George Washington Lodge #51 F&AM, the Chelsea Fish and Game Club, and the United Church of Chelsea, all of Chelsea. He had been a lister, school board member, and auditor for the town of Chelsea. He was a founding member of the Chelsea Health Center and on the board of directors for the Chelsea Co-op where he served as its treasurer. He enjoyed deer and rabbit hunting, fishing, and flower and vegetable gardening. When asked a few years ago how he would like to be remembered, he answered, “I would like to be remembered as a good provider, a good teacher, and a guy who thought a lot of his family”.

He is survived by three daughters: Nancy Button and her companion, Frank Keene, of Chelsea, Peggy Ackerman and her companion, Dean Leanard, of Rutland, and Susan Rogers of Vershire; a son, Richard Rogers, and his wife, Betty Rogers, of Chelsea; seven grandchildren: Pamela Cantrell and her husband, Ronald, of New London, New Hampshire, Richard Button and his wife, Patty, of Highgate, Lori Stever and her husband, Kevin, of Fairlee, Gary Ackerman and his wife, Lynn, of West Rutland, Laura Ackerman of Balston Spa, New York, Fay Goettsche and her husband, Oliver, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Shawn Rogers and his wife, Karlyce, of Plainfield, New Hampshire; 19 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandsons; a sister, Arlene Bickford, and her husband, Bill, of Essex Junction; and by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Gerry; a grandson, Jeffrey Ackerman, of Mechanicsville, New York; a son-in-law, Roger Ackerman, of Rutland; and a sister, Rena Blodgett, of Barton.

A memorial funeral service was held on June 4 at the United Church of Chelsea in Chelsea with Pastor Tom Harty officiating. A Masonic committal service was held immediately following the service at the Riverside Cemetery in Chelsea.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Branch Ambulance, Inc., P.O. Box 74, Chelsea, Vermont 05038.

Arrangements by the Boardway and Cilley Funeral Home.

Franklin Elliott Skinner

Franklin Elliott Skinner, 90, died on May 16, 2011, at his daughter’s home in South Acworth, New Hampshire.

He was born in Barton, on July 5, 1920, a son of Preston C. Skinner and Hazel C. (Elliott) Skinner.

He graduated from Orleans High School in 1938 and attended Becker Business College in Worcester, Massachusetts, then worked as a page and driver for Governor George Aiken in Montpelier.

Mr. Skinner enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 20, 1940, and was honorably discharged on September 22, 1945, after serving nearly four years with the 172nd Battalion, Army 44th Infantry. He was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Service Star.

In the early 1950s, Mr. Skinner, along with his wife, Madeline, and their two children moved to Stowe, where they operated a ski lodge, The Brick ’N Ell, for over 20 years. He had a deep love of the Northeast Kingdom where, with his family, he spent nearly 91 summers fishing, swimming, boating, picking blueberries, antiquing, and telling stories. He loved the outdoors and was a great fly fisherman and gardener, especially for his beloved raspberries. He always ate well and kept himself in good shape, doing 100 pushups a day well into his eighties

A celebration of Mr. Skinner’s life will take place on July 3 at Willoughby Lake in Westmore.

Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to: The Antrim Girls Shelter, P.O. Box 531, Antrim, New Hampshire 03440.

Pauline Mary St. Onge

Pauline Mary St. Onge, 85, of Troy died on June 4, 2011, in Newport.

She was born October 5, 1925, in Barton, a daughter of Leon and Aldina (Roy) Morin.

On May 10, 1941, she married Phillip St. Onge who predeceased her in 1998.

Mrs. St. Onge was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Troy. Her hobbies were gardening, traveling, playing bingo, cooking for her family, and attending the area senior citizens meal site.

She is survived by her children: Michael St. Onge of Coventry, Margaret Cole of Lyndonville, and Rachel Gladu and her husband, Bernard, of Lyndonville; by her grandchildren: Kevin Cole and his wife, Fallon, of Lyndonville, Paul Gladu and his wife, Candace, of North Carolina, Paula Morabito of Connecticut, and Tyler and Ryan St. Onge of Coventry; by her great-grandchildren: Emma, Chandler, and Avari Gladu of North Carolina, Madeline and Nichlos Morabito of Connecticut, and Lilly and Gabe Cole of Lyndonville; and by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Maurice Morin, and by a sister, Jean Amyot.

Funeral services were held on June 6 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Newport with the Reverend Henry Mlinganisa officiating. Interment followed in St. Ignatius Cemetery in Lowell.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Bel-Aire Nursing Home Activities Fund, 35 Bel-Aire Drive, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.

Committal Services

A committal service for Doris Andrews of Coventry, who died April 4, 2011, will be held Wednesday, June 15, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant View Cemetery in Orleans.

Committal services for Russell R. Ross Jr. will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the Alice Hunt Cemetery with military honors.